Novel Wisdom

About Novel Wisdom

This is a podcast about the people, stories, and ideas that changed history. Not just the ones in textbooks, but the forgotten, the unlikely, the almost-too-wild-to-be-true. From frauds to visionaries, underdogs to tyrants — these are the real stories that left a mark on the world. novelwisdom.substack.com (https://novelwisdom.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Krystian Streit

Category

business · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

9 Apr 2025

Latest episode

22 Jun 2025

Latest episodes

8 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   22 Jun 2025

   #7: George Orwell - The Terrifying Ideology of 1984

   George Orwell's novel *1984* explores themes of totalitarianism, surveillance, and manipulation, revealing the dangers of unchecked power and controlled information in a dystopian society.

2. 

   12 Jun 2025

   #6: Morgan Housel - Same As Ever

   Morgan Housel discusses his book, *Same As Ever*, and identifies the 23 unchanging traits of history, offering listeners a framework for understanding future trends by examining the past in this interview with Krystian Streit.

3. 

   7 Jun 2025

   #5: Sahil Bloom - 5 Types of Wealth

   Sahil Bloom presents his research into five types of wealth—time, social, mental, physical, and financial—and how they dynamically work together to create a fulfilling life, offering listeners a blueprint for prioritizing and improving their overall well-being in this interview.

4. 

   25 May 2025

   #4: Ross Ulbricht - The Rise and Fall of the Internet’s Most Wanted Man

   Krystian Streit examines Ross Ulbricht's creation of the Silk Road, exploring its rapid growth, philosophical underpinnings, and the ethical implications of his libertarian utopia, revealing the dark side of radical ambition.

5. 

   15 May 2025

   #3: The Professor and the Madman - Murder, Insanity, and the Oxford English Dictionary

   The Professor and the Madman tells the unbelievable true story behind the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary. At the heart of it are two men. James Murray, a brilliant linguist leading the project from Oxford, and Dr. William Minor, a former Civil War surgeon confined to an asylum after committing murder. From his cell, Minor became one of the dictionary's most important contributors, sending thousands of word citations and shaping the way we understand language. Their strange, moving friendship unfolds through letters, visits, and a shared obsession with words. This was not just about a dictionary. It was a 70-year mission to catalog every word in the English language, built from 1.8 million quotes sent in by 800 volunteers, and when all 12 volumes were done they weighed over 150 pounds. James Murray worked out of a custom-built shed in his garden, sorting thousands of slips each day. But the wildest part? One of the top contributors did it all from inside an insane asylum. Dr. Minor used the same knife to cut out dictionary entries that he later used in a moment of madness to castrate himself. His release was signed off by a young Winston Churchill. This is a story of genius, madness, and the strange places purpose can be found. Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3YE2JmZ Check out the podcast Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2ZeGkirlkK34nKrC49MjfQ?si=f90e7bcddad24a91), Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/novel-wisdom/id1806678844): Follow me on X: https://x.com/krystianstreit_ (https://x.com/krystianstreit_) Follow me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Krystian_Streit (https://www.youtube.com/@Krystian_Streit) Chapters: 00:00 Intro 03:40 The Murder of George Merrett 13:25 Dr. Murray (The Professor) 18:03 Dr. Minor (The Madman) 27:11 Creating The OED 54:03 The Meeting of the Minds 01:10:07 My Main Takeaway This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit novelwisdom.substack.com (https://novelwisdom.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

6. 

   7 May 2025

   #2: Matthew McConaughey

   Let’s dive into Matthew McConaughey's memoir 'Greenlights', exploring the key lessons and insights from McConaughey's life journey. We’ll cover themes of authenticity, the importance of solitude, the transformative 'McConaissance', and the value of understanding over being right. Through personal anecdotes and reflections, the episode highlights how McConaughey navigated his career and personal life, emphasizing the significance of living authentically and embracing life's greenlights. Sources & Links: Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4jXHWDd (https://amzn.to/4jXHWDd) Check out the podcast & newsletter: Follow me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Krystian_Streit (https://www.youtube.com/@Krystian_Streit) Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:52 The Life of Matthew McConaughey 10:31 Lesson #1: Stop Acting 19:20 Lesson #2: Want It, Don't Need It 25:42 Lesson #3: McConaissance 30:40 Lesson #4: The Walkabout Poem 34:10 Lesson #5: Not Right or Wrong, But Understanding 37:30 Lesson #6: Dallas Buyers Club 43:42 Lesson #7: The Ultimate Greenlight 46:06 Thank You This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit novelwisdom.substack.com (https://novelwisdom.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

7. 

   28 Apr 2025

   #1: Blood Meridian - The Book Too Horrifying To Be Made Into A Movie

   What if the most violent book you've ever read was also the most philosophical? Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy transcends the Western genre. It's a brutal, biblical journey into humanity's darkest corners. Based on true events, it follows a teenage runaway through a scorched borderland where scalp hunters prowl, morality crumbles, and an enigmatic figure known only as the Judge pronounces chilling truths about war, chaos, and the nature of existence. This episode isn't for the faint of heart—but if you've ever wondered what humans are truly capable of, or how evil cloaks itself in wisdom's garments, you'll want to hear this. * Sources & Links * Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/42Eyg9y (https://amzn.to/42Eyg9y) * Check out the podcast & newsletter: * Follow me on X: https://x.com/krystianstreit_ (https://x.com/krystianstreit_) * Follow me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Krystian_Streit (https://www.youtube.com/@Krystian_Streit) * Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Blood Meridian 10:13 The Nature of Violence and Human Existence 21:25 The Judge's Manipulation and Societal Reflections 28:57 The Philosophical Underpinnings of Humanity 34:53 Recruitment into Violence and Moral Ambiguity 41:40 The Harsh Realities of the Expedition 47:58 Survival Amidst Chaos 54:50 The Judge's Return and the Scalp Hunting Contract 01:03:35 The Judge's Dark Influence 01:12:47 The Volcano Concoction 01:18:45 The First Massacre 01:27:28 The Aftermath of Violence 01:53:41 Seizing Control at the Colorado River 01:58:56 The Decimation of the Glanton Gang 02:05:08 The Final Confrontation 02:14:01 The Return of the Judge 02:19:51 The Dance of Fate 02:26:14 The Final Choice This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit novelwisdom.substack.com (https://novelwisdom.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

8. 

   9 Apr 2025

   #0: Novel Wisdom Trailer

   "The dead outnumber the living fourteen to one, and we ignore the accumulated experience of such a huge majority of mankind at our peril." That quote by Niall Ferguson has been burned into my brain—and it’s the reason this podcast exists. When I hear names like Socrates, Steve Jobs, Dostoevsky, Napoleon, or Cormac McCarthy… I don’t just think about what they accomplished—I wonder what it cost them to get there. And more importantly, what can we learn from the worlds they left behind? Unfortunately, most of them aren’t around to sit down for a podcast interview. But we have the next best thing: their books. The biographies, the memoirs, the fiction, the essays, the meditations—the works that still punch us in the gut, decades or centuries later. These books contain the ideas that shaped history—and continue to shape the way we think, build, and live today. But let’s be honest: most people don’t have time to sit down and read a 600-page biography or a dense philosophical classic. That’s where I come in. Each episode, I dive deep into the lives and works of these fascinating people and breakdown their stories and the most important ideas we can use in our own lives today. But each episode isn’t going to be just a basic plot summary of their greatest works or some bullshit generic advice that can be prompted by ChatGPT. Not just the polished takeaways. Not just the inspirational quotes. But the full truth—the brilliance, the contradictions, the darkness, and the humanity. Some episodes will be about the lives of iconic people—from Elon Musk to Marcus Aurelius. Others will explore timeless books—from Blood Meridian to When Breath Becomes Air What connects them all is this question: “What does this story reveal about what it means to be human—to chase something, to suffer for it, to find meaning or madness in it?” This isn’t just about history. It’s not just about business. It’s about obsession, ambition, failure, morality, power, and wisdom—told through the greatest books ever written. If you’re the kind of person who wants more than surface-level life hacks… If you care about big ideas and want stories that hit deep and stay with you… You’re in the right place. Welcome to Novel Wisdom. I’ll see you in the first episode. Oh—and if this hits home, leave a 5-star review. It helps more people find the show. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit novelwisdom.substack.com (https://novelwisdom.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

404

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 24 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

22

Social presence

0

YouTube

66

Engagement

0

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.